This Act may be cited as the “NRC Mission Alignment Act”.

(a) Mission of the Commission.—

(1) UPDATE.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall, while remaining consistent with the policies of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (including to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of the public health and safety, to promote the common defense and security, and to protect the environment), update the mission statement of the Commission to include that licensing and regulation of nuclear energy activities be conducted in a manner that is efficient and does not unnecessarily limit—

(A) the potential of nuclear energy to improve the general welfare; and

(B) the benefits of nuclear energy technology to society.

(2) REPORT.—Upon completion of the updates to the mission statement required under paragraph (1), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall submit to Congress a report that describes—

(A) the updated mission statement; and

(B) the guidance that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will provide to staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to ensure effective performance of such mission.

(b) Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.—Section 203 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5843) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by striking “(a) There” and inserting the following:

“(a) Establishment; appointment of director.—There”;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—

(i) by striking “(b) Subject” and inserting the following:

“(b) Functions of director.—Subject”; and

(ii) by striking “delegate including:” and inserting “delegate, including the following:”; and

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking “for the discharge of the” and inserting “to fulfill the licensing and regulatory oversight”;

(3) in subsection (c), by striking “(c) Nothing” and inserting the following:

“(d) Responsibility for safe operation of facilities.—Nothing”; and

(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:

“(c) Licensing process.—In carrying out the principal licensing and regulation functions under subsection (b)(1), the Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation shall—

“(1) establish techniques and guidance for evaluating applications for licenses for nuclear reactors to support efficient, timely, and predictable reviews of applications for such licenses to enable the safe and secure use of nuclear reactors;

“(2) maintain the techniques and guidance established under paragraph (1) by periodically assessing and, if necessary, modifying such techniques and guidance; and

“(3) obtain approval from the Commission if establishment or modification of the techniques and guidance established under paragraph (1) or (2) involves policy formulation.”.